The State Department said the United States is waiving personal interviews for H-1B and certain other nonimmigrant visa applicants.
To reduce visa wait times, the United States has waived personal interviews for H-1B and some other types of nonimmigrant visas through next year.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant reduction in the visa processing capacity of the department,” it said in a statement. “As global travel rebounds, we are taking these tentative steps to further our commitment to safely and efficiently reduce visa wait times while keeping national security as our priority.”
According to ReutersConsular officers will now be temporarily authorized to waive personal interviews for about a dozen visa categories, including individuals in specialty occupations (H-1B visas), visas for students, temporary agricultural and non-farm workers. Includes visitor, student exchange. As well as from athletes, artists and entertainers.
The State Department also said it has indefinitely extended authorization to waive personal interviews for applicants who renew visas in the same visa category within 48 months of prior visa expiration.
In March 2020, the US State Department suspended all regular visa services in most countries around the world due to the coronavirus outbreak. Although services have been restored with limited capacity and on a priority basis, months-long wait times for some visa appointments remain due to massive backlogs.
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